Pompano dolphinfish

Pompano dolphinfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Coryphaenidae
Genus:	Coryphaena
Species:	C. equiselis
Binomial name
Coryphaena equiselis Linnaeus, 1758

The pompano dolphinfish (Coryphaena equiselis) is a species of surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in tropical and subtropical waters. They are one of only two members of the Coryphaenidae family, the other being the mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish.

Pompano dolphinfish have a lifespan of three to four years. They are often mistaken for juvenile mahi-mahi; they are somewhat smaller than their mahi-mahi cousins, never exceeding 127 cm in length. Pompano dolphinfish have compressed heads and long dorsal fins extending the entire length of their bodies. Their backs are a brilliant blue-green, and their sides are a silvery-golden color. Mature males develop a protruding forehead, but not to the same extent as male mahi-mahi. When they are removed from the water, the fish fade to a muted green-grey upon death.

Pompano dolphinfish are carnivorous, feeding on small fish and squid.

Pompano dolphinfish are popular as a game fish in the waters off South America, and are sometimes eaten as a substitute for swordfish because of their firm texture and sweet flavor.

References

• "Coryphaena equiselis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=168792. Retrieved 19 March 2006. 
• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2004). "Coryphaena equiselis" in FishBase. October 2004 version.